Elevator for liquids



May 28, 1929. 1, SCHAFAN 1,714,821

ELEVATOR FOR LIQUIDS I Lm @51g ab @Howe/12* Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED: ySTATES -ISAAC -SCHAFRALL OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T ARTHUR J.

DUNKLE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEVATOR FOR LIQUIDS.

v Application led August 6, 1927. Serial No. 211,070.

My invention relates to raising devices or elevators for liquids.

One of the objects of my invention is a new method of raising liquid from a lower level to a higher level, in large quantities, by employment of an alternating succession of fundamental, physical functions, consisting of suction, confinement, displacement, and rotation of a liquid, thereby imparting thereto centrifugal force.

Another object of my invent-ion is to provide means for accomplishing the aforementioned successive operations.

T he foregoing' and further objects will become more fully apparent from the following description and the purely diagrammatical illustrations serving exclusively for the purpose of making the basic principle of my invention more easily perceivable. l

Before describing my invention in detail, it will be advantageous to make clear the purpose for which my device is intended.

In places where irrigation is the only means of making the ground fertile, and particularly where the natural water supply is mostly located in canyons or valleys. normally inaccessible, and precluding the transportation of the required water to higher levels, eX- pensive pump arrangements are used. Such arrangements not only represent vast investments, but they are also costly in operation,

and usually most inadequate, due to their inherent limitations and the result obtainable by them.

In order to raise water in adequate quantities at the least expenditure of money. which latter factor is essential for practicable cultivation of land, a simple, and comparatively inexpensive device is required, capable of accopliplishing the required results economica v.

My new device is designed to fill these requirement-s. It is based on purely physical functions and properties of liquids. .and on physical force imparted thereto.

' l may enumerate those functions successively occurring during` the operation as follows:

First. suction, created by lifting an im- ;,0 merged body, thereby attracting liquid into the place vacated by the lifted body.

Sec-ond, confinement of the liquid in a vessel` which consists in preventing the suckedin liquid from leaving its place.

Third, displacement, and subsequent raising of the liquid by submerging a solid body intothe liquid.

Fourth, imparting a rotary motion to the liquid, thereby creating centrifugal force, which results in the tendency of the liquid to rise at the edge of the vessel in which it is confined.

Fifth` increasing the centrifugal force imparted to the liquid, by gradually increasing the diametrical dimensions of the liquid body through the agency of a conical vessel wherein the liquid is confined.

The foregoing are some of the high points upon which my invention is based. These and other essential functions will be more readily understood in connection with the drawings.

Figure l is a diagrammatical form, partially in cross section, of my device,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a single liquid elevating device and,

Figure 4 illustrates the principle of a battery of liquid elevating devices.

In the drawings, numeral 10 denotes a body of water in which is partially submerged a vessel 11, which is preferably of an inverted conical shape. the lower end of which terminates in a cylindrical base 12.

The outer body of Water communicates with the interior of the vessel by means of apertures 13. preferably equipped with valves 14. The latter are so arranged as to permit the inrush of water until the Water inside reaches the level of the outer body of water, when valves 14 automatically close so as to conline the water within the vessel.

At the upper end of the cylindrical base portion of the vessel, there is provided. a wave-shaped run-Way 15 for a plurality of rollers 16, attached to a semi-floating body 17. The latter is adapted to rotate, and while rotating. to reciprocate in up and downward direct-ions. The shape of body 17 is preferably that of an inverted frustum pyramid. terminating at its lower end in a. cylindrical extension 18. From the latter project outwardly. arms 19. adapted to engage and close valves 14 when body 17 descends.

At the upper end of vessel 11, there 1s provided an enlargement 20 and a spill-way 21. Mounted on the enlargement 2O there 1s a frame 22j. adapted to support a coupling 23, provided' for the purpose of permitting curare inclined upwardly, and at an angle relative to the body sides, as clearly seen inrFigures 1 and 2, respectively. Each of the propellers are driven by motors mounted within body 17 and fed by the main cable 25.

Operation.

When current is supplied, the motors driv-u ing the propellers are set in motion. The lower row of propellers submerged in the water .within eheh-vessel, will commence to impart a rotary motion to thebody 17. During each quarter turn` of the body, the latter descends and ascends in succession. -While descending, it depresses the water held within the vessel by the now closed valves 14, thereby causing the water to rise successively until it reaches the second line of propellers.

Due to the fact that the propellers are i11- clined upwardly, the water is so-to-speak, pushed upwards due to the reaction, caused by the propellers. The successive up and down motion of the body causes intake 'of water and rise of its level, which continues until the top rim of the vessel is reached. In addition to the up and down motion of the body, which acts in the same manner as would a plunger, the rotary motion of the body imparts a rotary motion to the water, which function in turn, results into imparting centrifugal force to the water.

Due to thefact that the vessel is of an inverted cone-shape, the centrifugal force of the water increases as it reaches greater diametrical dimensions. The centrifugal force -in itself will have the tendency to push, the

water upwards and, combined with the-other functions caused by body 17, will enhance the eectiveness of raising the water from 1ts original level to-a higherlevel.

' It is obvious that there will be limits as to the height of my device, and that there might necessarily arise problems where the lifting of the water will have to be accomplished in stages, in the way illustrated in Figure 4, where two or more elevators for liquids are employed.

As has been said before, the drawings by no means illustrate the final construction of my device,'and merely serve for explaining the principle of my new method of raising liquid from lower to higher levels.

Be it understood therefore that I shall not be limited to whatever showing is made in the drawings, and that I reserve for myself the rightto make such improvements or changes within the broad scope of my in- :of alternately 'receiving and retaining quantities of liquid, a floating, revoluble, body within said vessel, adapted alternately to ascend and descend, while revolvmg, thereby causing an alternate mtake and rise of,

'and simultaneously imparting a centrifugal motion to the liquid Within said vessel and means associated with said body for imparting thereto the aforesaid motions.

2; A device for raising liquid from lower to higher levels, comprising a vessel, adapted to be partially submerged in and alternately communicating with a body of liquid and capable of alternately receiving and retaining a given quantity thereof, a semi-floating, revoluble, member disposed within said vessel and adapted to alternately ascend and descend while revolving, therebyy causing, respectively, a suction of liquid into saidrvessel, and retention and rise thereof, due to displacement, while at the same time imparting centrifugal motion to the liquid within the vessel and means associated with said member for imparting thereto the aforementioned motions. l

3. A device for elevating liquid, comprising a vessel, a semi-floating revoluble reciprocating member therein, and means for facilitating, alternately, an intake and retention of liquid in said vessel.

4. A device for elevating liquid, comprising a substantially conical vessel, a substantially conical, revoluble and reciprocating member within the vessel, and mea-ns for facilitating, alternately, an intake andireten- 105 tion of liquid within said vessel, the former brought about by the upward movement of said member, while its downward movement causes a rise of the liquid to a higher level.

5. A device for elevating liquid, compris- 110 ing an inverted, substantially conical vessel, an inverted, substantially pyramid-shaped semi-floating member therein, capable of rotary and reciprocating motions, means associated with said vessel for facilitating intake 115 of liquid when said member, while revolving, moves upwards, and retention of liquid, when said member, while revolving, moves downwards, thus alternately causing suction and rise of the liquid within the vessel, while im- 7. The process of elevating liquid, which consists, of alternately and successively callsing suction, connement and rise, by displacement, of liquid, while imparting thereto a rotary motion and centrifugal forces, by revolving in said liquid a semi-floating body and causing the latter to alternately ascend and descend, while revolving.

8. The process of elevating liquid, which consists, of alternately and successively causing suction, confinement and rise, by displacement, of liquid, while imparting thereto a rotary mot-ion, by revolving in said liquid i a body and causing the latter to alternately ascend and descend, while revolving, and simultaneously increasing the dimensional properties of the liquid, proportionately with each rise or displacement period, thus enhancing the centrifugal force of the revolving liquid.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of July, A. D. 1927.

LSAAC SCHAFRAN. 

